Here in Calgary, water and sewer pipes are set well below the frost line, but rarely water is cut off when there is a "broken water main or pipe" in the neighborhood. Problems are rare, but they do occur.

For heating, natural gas is almost at the 100 percent level here, and we haven't ever had a problem with supply, but an electricity cut-off a couple of times was a real problem since the heat is delivered to the rooms in the house by electric fans. In this case, the furnace works at a low setting, but heat doesn't get to some rooms, and sweaters and coats have to be worn for the few hours that electricity is off.

Our utilities are paid through the bank, and we get periodic statements of how much is taken out. We look at the pro forma bills and cuss, but can't do anything about it.